Scripture: Micah 5:1-5a
Mobilize! Marshal your troops!
The enemy is laying siege to Jerusalem.
They will strike Israel’s leader
in the face with a rod.
2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
are only a small village among all the people of Judah.
Yet a ruler of Israel,
whose origins are in the distant past,
will come from you on my behalf.
3 The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies
until the woman in labor gives birth.
Then at last his fellow countrymen
will return from exile to their own land.
4 And he will stand to lead his flock with the Lord’s strength,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
Then his people will live there undisturbed,
for he will be highly honored around the world.
5 And he will be the source of peace.
Additional Scriptures: Psalm 79, Luke 21:34-38
Some thoughts
This passage from Micah is one of the most familiar prophetic passages in the Old Testament. The Hebrew Scriptures begin with verse two. Israel was under a vicious attack from the Assyrians to the north. Though crushed in defeat, God preserved a remnant of his people Israel. Being struck in the face with a rod was a sign of further contempt (v.1). The nation was being purified. The prophet proclaims that a future ruler will come from the tiny village of Bethlehem. Ephrathah was the ancient name of Bethlehem (Ruth 4:11). It was also the birthplace of King David. The phrase “one whose origins are from the distant past” suggests this is an unusual king, suggesting a divine-human ruler, the Ancient of Days.
Often in prophetic literature there is a more immediate fulfillment, a kind of “shadow” of the future. Then there is the final fulfillment, which completes the prophecy. Often, we are living between the two, awaiting the completion of the proclamation. Zerubbabel, a descendant of King David, did rule Israel when they returned from the Assyrian captivity, but no peace followed. A greater king was needed. This king would be the source of peace. The only king who ever brings peace is King Jesus! The Prince of Peace came to earth in the fulfillment of Micah’s words, and he brought another prophetic message from heaven itself. You can read his words in the above passage from Luke’s gospel. His words? “Don’t let your hearts be dulled by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware.” Jesus is where you will find your peace today as well as in eternity.
Music: “O Little Town of Bethlehem” Sara McLachlan
www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3mq6s1zQWo
Poem of George Herbert: This is the latter part of a poem entitled “Peace.” Note: Bethlehem means “house of bread.” It was Jesus who said, “I am the bread of life.”
At length I met a rev’rend good old man,
Whom when for Peace
I did demand, he thus began:
‘There was a Prince of old
At Salem dwelt, Who liv’d with good increase
Of flock and fold.
‘He sweetly liv’d; yet sweetnesse did not save
His life from foe.
But after death out of His grave
There sprang twelve stalks of wheat;
Which many wond’ring at, got some of those
To plant and set.
‘It prosper’d strangely; and did soon disperse
Through all the earth;
For they that taste it do rehearse
That virtue lies therein;
A secret virtue, bringing peace and mirth
By flight of sinne.
‘Take of this grain, which in my garden grows,
And grows for you;
Make bread of it; and that repose
And peace, which ev’ry where
With so much earnestnesse you do pursue,
Is only there.’